birds

Recently I saw where a five-year old autistic little boy was playing in a skate board park while his mother was sitting on a nearby bench watching him. Along comes 7 or 8 middle school young boys into the park. Normally, the five-year old was afraid of groups of people but one of the older boys came over to him and began walking beside him while he skate-boarded. After a bit, the others followed suit playing with him and he became so joyous and the mother was amazed.

She began to take pictures and post them. Later, the police had a pizza party for this group of young boys and they now have become friends with the little one and play with him from time to time. From there we don’t know where it has gone, but my heart fills with love and gratitude for this outpouring of love. So often, we read opposite reports of vandalism or terrorism while there is so very much good going on. Today, my focus will be seeing what God is seeing and sharing this information!

Before retiring last night, my husband and I discussed the weather forecast for today. It was predicted to be cloudy and dreary this morning. As I fell asleep, I was thinking about awakening to a dark and foggy day. To my surprise this morning I awakened to a bright, sunlit day and heard the birds singing. Soon I was questioning myself on how often I listen to erroneous predictions in my life.

These can always be refuted and replaced with loving thoughts from God. We are free not to entertain these dark and dismal thoughts for they always spiral down into even darker ones. Today, my promise is to question these thoughts and catch them early on.

2 Corinthians 4:18 reads “Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.”

This morning as I was praying and pondering the above question, very subtly the thought appeared that a relationship challenge I had some concern about appeared as the very thing that perhaps God couldn’t do. Immediately following a slight physical problem had appeared and I realized that I was listening to the carnal mind the Bible refers to as enmity against God. My faith is very strong and I know that having doubt is denying the Christ. Once again, I was reminded this is never about “recovery” but “discovery” of our true spiritual nature.

Psalms 139:14 states “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Spiritual man is made in the image and likeness of God and cannot possess error. Praying from that standpoint I see more clearly and realize completely the answer to the question “What cannot God do?” and know that it is nothing because with God, all things are possible!

This morning I was thinking of all of the “Fear Not”s in the Bible and then I thought of the verses with “Fear God” and began to ponder. It suddenly occurred to me that meant to respect! We are supposed to respect God but not respect anything ungodlike and it made perfect sense to me. Immediately, I saw where the power behind us is always greater than the challenge before us. Isaiah 12:2 states “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.”

Yesterday, I read a post on Facebook that said “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Heaven had visiting hours?” Immediately, I thought “Yes, it does and as a matter of fact, it is open twenty-four seven!” Why do we think we have to relocate to experience Heaven when joy surrounds us? We have a choice on experiencing Heaven or Hell any time. It is always our views on a situation. So often, man thinks things will be better hereafter or here-later when Heaven can be right here, right now!

By being grateful for blessings we already have opens us up to more. John 17:1 reads “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to Heaven, and said, Father the hour is come, glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:” Not tomorrow, but now.

In Biblical times, oil was poured over the head of a sheep to keep out mites that would lay eggs and the sheep would beat it’s head against something hard to attempt to get peace. Haven’t we felt the same way when peace seems unreachable? Psalms 23:5 states “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil”. The oil we receive from asking God and accepting it is inspiration to see the reality of our true being. There can never be imperfection in perfection and if we are made in the image and likeness of God as the first chapter of Genesis says, we are spiritually perfect. We need to start from perfection rather than look for perfection. God is perfect!

As we work to stay in gratitude and humility, our heart can hear God more clearly than when we are buried in pride and fear. Today I choose gratitude and humility!

Naturally, we should be grateful to all of those who have fought so we can have freedom in this great country of ours. Shouldn’t we also want freedom from hatred, envy, criticism, judgment, revenge, bitterness and all other negative feelings? That is true freedom and that comes with refuting those and replacing them with Love, kindness, compassion, gratitude and humility. Today, my prayer is that all men, women and children can taste of freedom within. That can be done with focusing on God, Love!

Titus 3:5 states “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”